Gold | Dreamnoblade

Questions

They sat down into two of the chairs, centering themselves around the lenses on the stage. The media room somehow feeling more tense even with the lack of people.

"We are currently interviewing Techno Blade and Nina Walker. What got you guys into swimming?"

Nina was eager to talk, jumping into the conversation almost immediately, "I started swimming as a form of physical therapy after I broke my ankle when I was about eight years old. I've been hooked ever since!" she answered enthusiastically.

The interviewers focused their cameras onto Techno. He tried not to squint against the glaring white light. "I started swimming as a diver." he simplified into ways other people could understand. Simplifying it to a point that would make it impossible for his words to be twisted against him. He didn't want others to look at him with sorrow and pity. He wasn't a sob story to be made into a story of a tale of heroism. He was just a kid.

"How'd you get into diving?" they dug, clearly unsatisfied with his short response.

"My past adoptive parents were coaches of it."

"Why'd you switch?" they pried.

'Why so many questions?' Techno wanted to shoot back. He bit his tongue. "Didn't like it anymore."

The reporter seemed slightly dejected at Techno's lack of engagement with the conversation and moved on. Techno relaxed a bit, relieved at the relent of the interrogation.

"What does your training regiment look like?" one asked Nina.

Nina smiled, "Well, when I'm not at the Olympics, I get up around six, go for a run, I do a long distance swim in the afternoon and in the evening I do training exercises in a pool. Here, things are a bit more hectic so I've been taking opportunities to train as they come."

They nodded, scribbling down some notes.

Another interviewer struck up conversation. "Mr. Blade, how do you feel you've improved between this competition season and the last Olympics? Do you believe you'll take home gold this year?" the journalist had a trained focused stare on him. It was unnerving.

Techno shifted in his seat, trying and failing to get more comfortable, "I've worked on my breath trainin', swam longer distances, and put in more hours so I'd say there's been some significant progress. Hopefully enough to get gold." He really hoped it was enough. He wanted to be enough more than he wanted to win. He looked around the room distractedly, avoiding eye contact but he met Dream's warm expression as the other held up two thumbs up. He felt his lips reluctantly twitch into a subtle smile.

A reporter stepped closer, shoving past some others, "Nina, how does your sport affect your relationships?"

Nina looked back at the man inquisitively. "My romantic relationships?"

He nodded, his pen trained on a notepad.

"That's not really important," Techno took note of the way she trailed hesitantly, "but other than some long stretches of being away for competitions it's not that different from dating someone with a nine to five," she laughed nervously.

Techno shook his head slightly. Athletes' personal lives weren't anyone's business, and to pressure an answer out of someone by asking on a world stage was distasteful in Techno's opinion. He hated media interviews.